The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 107
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Natural Limits of Slavery Expansion
unity. This in itself seems highly significant of the southern
attitude.
If the conclusions that have been set forth are sound, by 1860
the institution of slavery had virtually reached its natural fron-
tiers in the west. Beyond Texas and Missouri the way was
closed. There was no reasonable ground for expectation that
new lands could be acquired south of the United States into
which slaves might be taken. There was, in brief, no further
place for it to go. In the cold facts of the situation, there was
no longer any basis for excited sectional controversy over slav-
ery extension; but the public mind had so long been con-
cerned with the debate that it could not see that the issue had
ceased to have validity. In the existing state of the popular
mind, therefore, there was still abundant opportunity for the
politician to work to his own ends, to play upon prejudice and
passion and fear. Blind leaders of the blind! Sowers of the
wind, not seeing how near was the approaching harvest of the
whirlwind !
Perhaps this paper should end at this point; but it may be
useful to push the inquiry a little farther. If slavery could gain
no more political territory, would it be able to hold what it had?
Were there not clear indications that its area would soon begin
to contract? Were there not even some evidences that a new
set of conditions were arising within the South itself which
would disintegrate the institution? Here, it must be confessed,
one enters the field of speculation, which is always dangerous
ground for the historian. But there were certain factors in the
situation which can be clearly discerned, and it may serve some
purpose to indicate them.
Reference has already been made to the increasingly high
prices of slaves in the southwestern states throughout the
eighteen-fifties. This price-boom was due in part to good prices
for cotton; but though there had always previously been a fairly
close correlation between cotton and slave prices, the peculiarity
of this situation was that slave prices increased much faster than
cotton prices from 1850 to the end of 1860.14 Probably the ex-
'For a general survey of the rise of slave prices for this period, see
U. B. Phillips, American Negro Slavery . . . (New York, 1918),
370-95, especially the chart opposite 370. Texas newspapers contain
frequent accounts of sales of slaves, especially in eastern Texas. The107
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/121/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.